In December, our team undertook a significant initiative known as the “Cold Winter” project. This endeavor aimed to aid nearly a thousand individuals who, unfortunately, lost their homes due to the harsh realities of war. These families, along with their children, found themselves residing in shelters, grappling with poor living conditions, lack of heating, and the aftermath of blackout-related issues.

In Bezliudivka, where families from Kharkiv’s Saltivka residential district had been resettled, the conditions were challenging. These families were provided with small, aging houses, lacking heating but equipped with furnaces. Recognizing the urgency, our first step was to supply firewood and warm blankets to alleviate their immediate needs.

Overall, we delivered substantial quantities of firewood to 23 houses, ensuring a sufficient supply to last through the winter. For a detailed video report from one of the houses and photos/videos from all households that received firewood, please refer to this link.

Understanding the critical role of generators during blackout conditions, we acquired and provided a generator with a three-month fuel supply. This generator now operates in the school building, functioning as a volunteer center for refugees.

The delivery of warm blankets was another crucial aspect of our visit to Bezliudivka. These blankets were distributed to refugees who had endured rocket attacks and lost their homes. A total of 100 blankets were delivered to the community.

In Bezliudivka, there are 154 children directly affected by the war. In collaboration with our generous donors, we orchestrated a surprise for them, playing the role of Secret Santas. Various families from a joint British-Ukrainian company sent individual gifts for each child, and we had the privilege of personally delivering these gifts. For a glimpse into this heartwarming gesture, visit this link.

While presenting gifts to the children, we also handed them cards for feedback. These cards allowed the children to express a few words of gratitude to their Secret Santas. We’ve collected all the cards and will be delivering them to the donors company’s office.

The “Cold Winter” project has not only provided practical assistance but has also become a source of warmth, hope, and joy during these challenging times. We remain committed to making a positive impact on the lives of those affected by the ravages of war.